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Introduction to Linux - A Hands on Guide

This guide was created as an overview of the Linux Operating System, geared toward new users as an exploration tour and getting started guide, with exercises at the end of each chapter.
For more advanced trainees it can be a desktop reference, and a collection of the base knowledge needed to proceed with system and network administration. This book contains many real life examples derived from the author's experience as a Linux system and network administrator, trainer and consultant. They hope these examples will help you to get a better understanding of the Linux system and that you feel encouraged to try out things on your own.

MasterC....it just keeps getting worse: kscd crashes everytime I try to load it and xmms locks up either individually or it locks the whole system! None of the cd burning applications 'see' tracks even with /dev/cdrom1 like grip showed tracks with. I removed xmms from the system and re -installed and no change....can't find a way to remove kscd to do th same.
If my other computer wasn't a 486 with win95 and a nearly full 2g hardrive I would try it there now. Still thinking about Wal-Mart....

Hmm... First try a different window manager. Fire up fluxbox or something lite, maybe xfce since it's Cholesterol Free Either way, get away from KDE for now. Let's rule out a sound server problem. Now fire up grip again. Get the CD playing. Make sure you have the audio cable connected to the back of the drive and the soundcard. Make sure volumes are unmuted in your mixer. Make sure you have permission to access /dev/dsp and /dev/dsp (and /dev/mixer). Check the modules to ensure the module for your card is loaded. Finally, check the volume on your speakers, and make sure they are plugged in.

Now, here's how to get your mixer up (use root for all of this, but be careful not to dork with anything too much):
fire up xterm or any terminal and type:
kmix (or gmix or aumix if any of those don't work, install one from your install discs)

the minor success that I had using the KSCD to play a disc was done with KDE gui, I don't like using terminal's, I haven't really got a clue how to use them to best advantage, as I haven't had any experience of them - my first PC was a wind0w$ 95 system so I was too late for DOS.

Just keep at it, it's got to be a configuration thing if you are getting system sounds.

In my case, it's cos I'm a total tit, either that, or as per f*****g, the pricks who write the documentation don't understand the meaning of the word "Intuitive" - cos that's what they say about XMMS, and let me tell you, they are lieing like a hairy egg.

Oh, and before I finish my rant, I can't get f*****g grip to start either. I was earlier, but I went to change the "cdrom" device to it said /dev/scd0 and now the bastard just won't start - I did also try it in a terminal but the piece of s**t just says error unable to initialise cdrom2

so at the moment, it's a pile of crap!

regards

John the unfeasibly frustrated!

p.s. did I read somewhere that you are getting stuck in respect of resources i.e. hdd size or ram or somesuch - I only ask, because I use mandrake because the bit of research that I did before starting to learn linux indicated that mandrake was about the most user friendly in a newbie/desktop sort of way - again they lied seriously though, I feel that half the problem is that the people who are linux dev's have forgotten what it's like to be a n00b, and that's why they use phrases like "intuitive", when it's not, but as for the snags you mentioned with win xp - my hdd is only 40 gig's and the win xp has a partition of about 22 gig's. But if your hdd is getting a bit full, slash and burn - I don't tend to keep anything on my hdd except the applications, and if I find that I don't use something - then I bin it.

masterC
i need some basics on doing a differnet window manager...typing flubox or xfce at the run command or a terminal did nothing.
I tried the other trouble shooting cammands and that did nothing or showed me nothing.

bigjohn
I feel your frustration! this Linux will never fly with the general public if it cannot be managed from the desktop! This coding from a terminal is like dinking with the registry in windows. I d/l'd and installed from the internet and so far my only investment is time and I am running out of that and patience. Has anyone who has actually bought this product gotten any support?
I thought that apple was the stepchild to windows...mandrake must be the bastard child....

To start with, the first couple of times, I just did download stuff, but the version that I have running at the moment is a boxed set - which did actually make a difference.

e.g. I know that you can now get the various nvidia drivers, but they where already on the boxed version and set up ready to go. Also, the support for the alcatel speedtouch usb really was "out of the box" no more messing with the microcode.
And they included the "bootstrap" rpm for the micr0$0ft font's that are available on the net, though I removed that and did the install myself, as that enables me to use all the fonts I want (under my wind0w$ licence).

I also decided that to show a little loyalty, the 25 pounds was better in their bank than in my wallet, I now appreciate some of the difficulties of producing software, and as you can't even get a decent restraunt meal for "*a pony" down my neck of the wood's I thought, why not.

Even though I generally enjoy using mandrake - more than once I have been close to putting a large hammer straight through the monitor in frustration - but then I remember (thus far) that I do't get road rage even if I'm trying to force my 55ft tractor/trailer combo through central London - I just walk away and chill.

Originally posted by 322bnh masterC
i need some basics on doing a differnet window manager...typing flubox or xfce at the run command or a terminal did nothing.
I tried the other trouble shooting cammands and that did nothing or showed me nothing.

bigjohn
I feel your frustration! this Linux will never fly with the general public if it cannot be managed from the desktop! This coding from a terminal is like dinking with the registry in windows. I d/l'd and installed from the internet and so far my only investment is time and I am running out of that and patience. Has anyone who has actually bought this product gotten any support?
I thought that apple was the stepchild to windows...mandrake must be the bastard child....

How are you getting into X? If you are using "startx" then you will need to just make a .xinitrc file in your home directory, and then add this line to that file:
exec /path/to/xfce
To find the path:
whereis xfce

Then logout of your existing X, and then start right back up:
startx
And it should fire up xfce.